Jewish Schools Can Learn From This NYC Elite Private School for Girls

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a groundbreaking initiative, The Brearley School, one of New York City’s most prestigious and exclusive private institutions, has announced that it will soon offer free tuition to children from families earning $100,000 or less annually, according to a recently published report in The New York Times. This significant move seeks to broaden access to the elite all-girls’ school, located on the Upper East Side, and reflects a growing urgency among top-tier educational institutions to diversify their predominantly wealthy and white student bodies.

Brearley, renowned for its academic rigor and competitive admissions process, charges an annual tuition of $64,100, making it one of the most expensive private schools in the city. The introduction of this free tuition program marks it as the first K-12 private school in New York City to provide such financial support for children in a specific income bracket. Noted in the NYT report was that this pioneering step could set a precedent, potentially pressuring other elite private schools to adopt similar measures in response to increasing calls for inclusivity and equity in education.

For years, Brearley and other elite schools across the United States have grappled with the challenge of diversifying their student populations. As tuition fees have steadily increased, these institutions have become less accessible to students from lower-income backgrounds, reinforcing socioeconomic divides, as per the information provided in the NYT report. The need to address this issue became more urgent following the 2020 protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd, which led to a nationwide reckoning with systemic racism in many sectors, including education.

Brearley, like many other prestigious schools, faced allegations of racism within its walls. As per the NYT report, in the aftermath of Floyd’s death, a group of students created the Instagram account Black at Brearley, which quickly gained traction by sharing anonymous accounts of racism and exclusion experienced by Black students at the school. The account’s mission was clear: to expose the often isolating experience of being a student of color at Brearley and to demand meaningful institutional change.

The stories shared on the account resonated widely, shedding light on the challenges faced by students who do not fit the traditional demographic profile of elite private schools—predominantly white and affluent, as revealed in the NYT report. The widespread attention and support garnered by the account underscored the necessity for Brearley and similar institutions to take concrete steps toward creating a more inclusive environment.

In response to these calls for action, Brearley’s leadership committed to diversifying the 140-year-old school, which boasts notable alumnae such as Caroline Kennedy and actor Kyra Sedgwick, the NYT report said. According to the school, about half of its 770 students identify as being of color, though it has not provided a detailed demographic breakdown. Despite these efforts, Brearley has recognized that financial barriers continue to prevent many talented students from accessing the opportunities the school offers.

With an endowment of approximately $160 million, Brearley is now using its financial resources to support its commitment to diversity. The decision to offer free tuition to families earning $100,000 or less is a significant step in making the school more accessible to a broader range of students. This initiative not only addresses economic disparities but also aligns with the school’s stated mission to foster a diverse and inclusive community.

According to the NYT report, this initiative, led by Jane Foley Fried, the head of school, seeks to diversify the student body and ensure that talented girls from all economic backgrounds have the opportunity to benefit from the rigorous and enriching education Brearley offers.

Jane Foley Fried envisions Brearley as a place for “girls who love to learn and want to be in a place that really challenges them intellectually, and where they are going to meet students of all different backgrounds, from all over the city,” the report in the NYT said. This vision is driving the school’s commitment to creating a more inclusive environment where students from various socioeconomic backgrounds can thrive together.

However, the high cost of tuition—currently set at $64,100 per year—has historically made Brearley accessible primarily to the very affluent. The report added that this financial barrier has led to increasingly wealthy incoming classes, as only the most financially privileged families could afford the full cost of attendance. Recognizing this challenge, Brearley is taking bold steps to ensure that economic diversity becomes a more prominent feature of its student body.

This year, Brearley plans to allocate nearly $9 million to financial aid, supporting about 20 percent of its students. However, much of this aid has traditionally gone to upper-middle-class families for whom the tuition was just out of reach. Indicated in the NYT report was that the new free tuition program specifically targets lower-income students, who have historically been underrepresented at Brearley.

Under the new initiative, current Brearley families earning $100,000 or less will have any remaining fees after financial aid waived. This means that these families, many of whom are already stretched thin by the high cost of living in New York City, will no longer face the financial strain of covering additional school-related expenses, as per the NYT report. However, families will need to reapply for aid each year, ensuring that the support is tailored to their current financial situation.

This approach is particularly timely, given the findings of a recent study that highlighted the financial pressures on New York City families. The NYT also reported that the study revealed that a household income of at least $100,000 is now necessary to afford basic necessities in the city, amid one of the worst cost-of-living crises in recent history. Brearley’s initiative directly addresses this challenge, offering a lifeline to families who might otherwise be unable to consider such an elite educational option for their daughters.

Brearley’s new tuition policy aligns with a broader trend among elite educational institutions to make high-quality education more accessible to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. In recent years, several top-tier colleges have introduced similar free tuition programs. For example, Harvard University offers free tuition to students whose families earn less than $85,000 annually, while New York University extends this benefit to students from families earning less than $100,000, as was reported by the NYT. Additionally, a recent $1 billion donation has enabled the Albert Einstein College of Medicine to waive tuition for all its students, further highlighting the growing movement toward reducing financial barriers in education.

These programs reflect a growing recognition that access to elite education should not be determined by financial means alone. Instead, institutions are increasingly focusing on creating opportunities for talented students from all backgrounds to pursue their academic and professional goals without the burden of overwhelming debt or financial insecurity.

Drawing inspiration from elite schools like Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and the Nueva School in California, which offer similar programs, Brearley is set to implement this initiative next September, the NYT report confirmed. This bold step reflects the school’s commitment to inclusivity and equity, but also raises questions about the challenges and potential impact of such a program in the context of New York City’s competitive educational landscape.

Phillips Exeter Academy, for instance, provides free tuition to families earning less than $125,000 per year, while the Nueva School in California has a $150,000 cutoff, the NYT report noted. These programs have served as successful models for making elite education more accessible to a broader range of students, and Brearley hopes to achieve similar results in New York City.

However, Brearley’s approach is tailored to the unique challenges and demographics of its urban environment. The school’s new program is not just about reducing financial barriers but also about actively recruiting students from diverse backgrounds across the city. To this end, the NYT reported that Brearley plans to launch a comprehensive marketing campaign, with advertisements in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Bengali, aimed at reaching potential applicants in various communities. This outreach will be complemented by admissions officers traveling to schools in lower-income neighborhoods, directly engaging with students who might not otherwise consider applying to such an elite institution.

Each year, about 60 students enroll at Brearley in kindergarten, which is when the majority of students are admitted. The school’s admission process is known for its rigor, involving a group play session, a preschool reference, and a family interview, with additional consideration given to legacy status. Brearley’s admission rate is notoriously competitive, hovering below 20 percent, making it one of the most selective private schools in New York City.

For many girls, gaining admission to Brearley is more than just an entry into a prestigious K-12 school—it is the first step on a pathway to top universities. In fact, the report in the NYT said that Brearley has sent more of its graduates to Harvard University over the past four years than to any other college, highlighting the school’s role as a launching pad for academic and professional success.

Despite Brearley’s ambitious plans, there is skepticism about whether the free tuition program will lead to meaningful changes in the school’s demographic makeup. Speaking to the NYT, Emily Glickman, who runs Abacus Guide Educational Consulting in New York, expressed doubts about the program’s ability to truly diversify Brearley’s student body. “It’s still a private school, and it’s still only granting free tuition to a small selection of its students,” she pointed out. “It’s not a free school, and there are superb free schools in New York City if you are fortunate enough to be admitted.”

Glickman’s comments highlight a broader challenge faced by private schools attempting to diversify: the inherent exclusivity that comes with selective admissions. Even with financial barriers lowered, the rigorous admissions process, coupled with the small number of available spots, means that only a limited number of lower-income students will be able to benefit from the program. Additionally, the NYT report noted that there are public magnet schools in New York City, such as Stuyvesant High School and Bronx Science that already offer high-quality education without the cost of tuition, further complicating the competitive landscape.